Beyond the skyline: ThirtyFour18 aims to transform how Cape Town lives, works and plays

Source: Supplied. Architectural rendering of ThirtyFour18, the R2.5bn mixed-use landmark set to reshape Cape Town’s Foreshore skyline.

Conceived as a highly serviced private residential address, ThirtyFour18 has been named after the building’s global co-ordinates and is backed by Indalo Hotels and Leisure Group, a subsidiary of Afrirent Holdings.

The R2.5bn vertically integrated, mixed-use complex, planned for the open space in front of CTICC 2 - on Heerengracht Street - will have dedicated floors for commercial offices, five-star hotel accommodation, 101 luxury residential apartments and exclusive penthouses. Wellness facilities, including a gym and spa, will add to the residential and guest offering, while a rooftop restaurant and bar will create a distinct lifestyle and entertainment destination. Meanwhile, co-working and meeting facilities will further support the building’s role as an integrated urban hub.

Engineering and design challenges

Alderman James Vos, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, and Senzo Tsabedze, founder and executive chairman of Afrirent Holdings, the project's co-developer - were in the spotlight at the unveiling of the project at CTICC 2 on Monday, 26 October 2026 where guests were invited to view the 3D architectural model of the anticipated building.

It presents a significant engineering challenge, the project team said. With the CTICC on one side and a busy arterial road on the other, the construction site has limited space for equipment, materials and deliveries. The foundations will require approximately 90 piles extending around 90 feet into the ground.

Andre Wapenaar, partner at Messaris Wapenaar Cole Architects, said the building’s form had been carefully considered in response to Cape Town’s prevailing winds and challenging coastal weather conditions. Its distinctive fishbone-inspired design, combined with rounded edges and an articulated façade, was intended to create a more aerodynamic structure, allowing wind to move around and, where the design permits, through elements of the building rather than meeting broad, uninterrupted surfaces.

This approach aims to reduce wind resistance while responding sensitively to the city’s exposed foreshore setting, he said.

While the design responds to the specific environmental demands of its Foreshore setting, the development’s ambitions extend beyond the building itself, with the potential to contribute to the wider regeneration and economic vitality of the CBD.

Source: Supplied. Apartment interior rendering showcasing panoramic views towards Cape Town Stadium and beyond, highlighting the development’s residential offering.

Driving CBD investment

The City of Cape Town’s support for the development was a central theme at the reveal, highlighting the role major private-sector projects can play in strengthening investor confidence, stimulating economic activity and adding further momentum to the development of the CBD and Foreshore.

Stefan Botha, director of Rainmaker Marketing and master of ceremonies at the event, said the City of Cape Town's property market was already outperforming those of other provinces, with residential property prices appreciating by approximately 11% year on year.

“We want Cape Town and the world to know that we are open for business. When you have a private sector that’s willing to invest, as government, you need to do everything possible to make that investment land, make it as easy as possible for those investors to come into your city,” said Alderman James Vos.

He positioned ThirtyFour18 within the City’s wider drive to unlock economic growth through its property portfolio and strengthen the inner city as a place to live, work, invest and visit, describing the project as one that brings together a stronger business tourism ecosystem, a more vibrant commercial precinct and greater economic opportunity."

Creating a 24-hour economy

“If we want to build a city for tomorrow, we need to package land for private developers and investors, including those specialising in mixed-use developments such as hotels and co-working spaces. The City’s property portfolio must respond to that vision, while also creating opportunities to repurpose existing buildings.

“Many buildings in the city were originally developed as office blocks, catering to people who worked nine to five and then went home. We want to flip the script and make Cape Town a 24-hour economy. This means allowing the private sector much greater creative licence in how buildings are used, including greater flexibility around zoning and opportunities to redesign them for lifestyle living, or even call centres. These developments will help beautify, secure and clean up the inner city."

Source: Supplied. Architectural rendering of ThirtyFour18’s rooftop restaurant, offering elevated dining, panoramic city views and a distinctive hospitality experience.

Alderman Vos said the City’s Cape Town Ease of Doing Business Index, launched in May 2023, would assist in bringing this vision to life. The index measures the time, cost and complexity of 10 key business-facing municipal processes, including building-plan approvals, land-use rights, utility connections and business licensing, enabling the City to identify administrative bottlenecks and track improvements.

On Monday, Vos reported that the City had implemented 51 documented reform actions across nine key business-facing services since 2022.

"The development team has also deliberately appointed Cape Town-based professionals to the project, supporting its intention to keep a greater share of the economic impact within the local economy," Vos said.

Creating jobs and opportunity

“This is an iconic site, and we have a responsibility to make the most of the opportunity it presents," Tsabedze said. “Our ambition is to create a landmark development that contributes to Cape Town’s growth, attracts visitors and businesses, creates employment and demonstrates what can be achieved through investment, collaboration and innovative engineering.”

Tsabedze said 2,500 jobs would be created during construction and that 400 permanent jobs would be created across hospitality, property management, facilities management and related services once the development is complete.